03/28/2024
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The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit has completed an investigation into the distribution of Controlled Substances in the Quail Street/Martin Luther King Drive area of Elizabethtown said Sheriff James A. McVicker

During the investigation, it was determined by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit that the below listed individuals were responsible for distributing Controlled Substances in and around Elizabethtown.

This investigation originated from citizen complaints which prompted Narcotics Agents to the area of 504 Quail Street, Elizabethtown, NC.  Agents conducted multiple undercover purchases from the defendants in this investigation where varying amounts of marijuana were purchased. This has been a known drug area for over 20 years.

At the conclusion of this investigation, on July 31, 2018, the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and Elizabethtown Police Department served arrest warrants on the defendants.  The defendants in this investigation were arrested and processed at the Bladen County Detention Center.

The defendants in this case are brothers and have a history of selling and trafficking controlled substances.  Both defendants have served time in prison for controlled substances offenses.

Jamie Ballard was previously arrested on July 17, 2018, pursuant to a search warrant at 504 Quail Street, Elizabethtown, NC where Ballard was found to be in possession of approximately ¼ pound of marijuana.  Ballard was processed and released after he posted a $75,000.00 secured bond.

Ballard was re-arrested on July 31st and charged additionally with 2 counts of Sell/Deliver Marijuana, 2 counts of Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Marijuana, 2 counts of Manufacture Marijuana. His new bond was set at $100,000.00

Ballard will remain in the custody at the Bladen County Detention Center until he is transferred to federal custody on outstanding federal charges stemming from this investigation.

Also arrested was Benjamin Ballard, 49, of 504 Quail Street. He was charged with 1 count of Sell/Deliver Marijuana, 1 count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Marijuana, 1 count of Manufacture Marijuana. His bond was set at $50,000.00.

On Saturday, July 21, 2018, James Gordon, 36, of 3401 Peanut Plant Road, Elizabethtown,  was arrested and charged with multiple controlled substance offenses after leading deputies on a brief chase following a vehicle stop near Elizabethtown.  During the encounter, Gordon threw an undetermined amount of marijuana from his vehicle and after being apprehended, was found to still be in possession of approximately 92.59 grams of marijuana and approximately 15 dosage units of MDMA/Ecstasy.  Along with the aforementioned narcotics, a vehicle and two cellular devices were seized. He was arrested on the charges of 1 count of Failure to Stop for a Stop Sign, 1 count of Flee to Elude Arrest, 1 count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Marijuana, 1 count of Manufacture Marijuana, 1 count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Schedule I Controlled Substance (MDMA/Ecstasy). Gordon’s bond was set at $53,000.00.

A search warrant was executed on Monday, July 30, 2018, on Gordon’s cellular devices and tied Gordon to conspiring to distributing marijuana in the Elizabethtown area with Jamie and Benjamin Ballard. Additional charges are pending.

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